Gibson Pass Ski Area

Gibson Pass Ski Area

Location of Gibson Pass Ski Area in British Columbia
Location British Columbia, Canada
Nearest city Manning Park, East Gate
Hope, 75km West
Princeton, 75km East
Vertical 417 m
1417 ft
Top elevation 1789 m[1]
5868 ft
Base elevation 1357 m
4451 ft
Skiable area 57 acres
140 hectares
Runs 34 total
30% Novice
40% intermediate
30% expert
Longest run 1943 m
6375 ft
Lift system 5 total
2 double chairlifts
1 T-bar
1 handle tow
1 Tube Cable Tow
Snowfall 546 cm
215 inches
Website Manning Park Resort

Gibson Pass Ski Area, more commonly known as Manning Park Ski Area or simply Manning Park, is a small ski area located within E. C. Manning Provincial Park. The hill itself is not owned or operated by BC Parks, instead by the current park facility operator, Manning Park Resort. The land is used through a lease with the provincial government.

The hill has two tandem, single speed chairlifts, a handle tow, a T-Bar, and a tube cable lift. Facilities at the hill itself include a day lodge and restaurant, rental shop, ski patrol cabin, and a daycare.

Rental shop and base of the Orange Chair

History

The Hope-Princeton Highway was constructed in 1949, allowing easy access to the park. A small motel was constructed near the site of the current Manning Park Resort. Throughout the years, multiple different layouts and locations were tried for the ski hill, and many proposals (including a bid for the Winter Olympic games) were put forward, but ultimately the Gibson Pass location was a success.

Facilities

All facilities are located at the base of the chairlifts and the top of the handle tow. There are eight buildings onsite at the ski hill, not counting lift operation buildings and disused buildings. There is no permanent lodging at the ski hill, but power hookups are available for RV's. The parking area is two-tiered and unpaved, and ploughed by Manning Park Resort. Power is supplied to the ski hill by a diesel generator located near the base of the Blue Chair.

Building Use
Day Lodge
  • Restaurant
  • Lunch Room
  • Lockers
  • Flush Toilets
Ski Rental Building
  • Ski equipment rentals
Ticket Building
  • Lift Ticket Windows
  • Seasons Pass Office
Snow School
  • Ski and snowboard lessons
Ski Patrol Cabin
Twin Tow
  • Old rope tow control building, sometimes used for races,events and ski club meetings.
Bistro
  • Daycare
Generator/Maintenance Building
  • Diesel Generator
  • Equipment Storage

Lifts

Manning Park resort currently has five lifts: two nearly identical tandem single-speed chairlifts of 1967 and 1970 vintage ("The Blue Chair" and "The Orange Chair," respectively), one handle-tow as the upper lift in the novice area, a T-bar as the lower lift in the novice area, and a cable tow for the Polar Coaster. The novice area is split into two vertical sections. Restraining safety devices are installed on the Blue and Orange chair.

Trails

Alpine Trails

Green Blue Black
Wagon Trail Race Course Black Bowl
Old Wagon Trail Blue Face Muncher's Delight
Horseshoe Chit-Chat Blue Streak
Loop Orange Streak Hokey's Hollow
Cross Over Tower Six Tree Well
Junction Mogul Hill Gravity Bowl
Handle Tow Featherstone Big Spruce
T-Bar Featherstone Special Gully
Shadow Timber Cruise
Coming Home Snag
Fool Hen Lower Snag
Sun Step Traverse
Sun Step
Apple Bowl
Outer Apple Bowl
Apple Bowl Hike

Nordic Trails

Green Blue Black
Beaver Pond Trail Lone Duck Trail Graduation Hill
Little Muddy Trail South Gibson Trail North Gibson Trail
Campground Loop Cascade Lookout Trail
Mini-Loop Blackwall Peak Trail
Strawberry Flats Loop

Transportation

The ski hill is located approximately ten minutes from the Manning Park Lodge off of Highway 3. A free shuttle is available every day of the week between the lodge and the ski hill.[2]

Free shuttle between Manning Park Lodge and the day lodge of the ski hill.

See also

References

  1. "Mountain Stats". Manning Park Resort. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  2. "Free Shuttle Bus Service". ManningPark.com. Manning Park Resort. Retrieved 16 January 2015.

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, March 07, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.